Interview Advice
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From 1999 to 2004 I was unemployed due to health reasons. However, I have recovered and since 2005 have been working as a consultant. Now I have been offered an interview for a more permanent position. What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
I don't think it matters. 2005 is far enough back to go as far as specifics are concerned IMO. If it comes up, I guess it depends, was your health issue something that would scare them if they knew about it ? 'I couldn't work for a few years but that won't happen again' is better than any sort of 'I chose not to work for a bit' story. I say give dates going back three years then a general 'other work before that' statement.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
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I don't think it matters. 2005 is far enough back to go as far as specifics are concerned IMO. If it comes up, I guess it depends, was your health issue something that would scare them if they knew about it ? 'I couldn't work for a few years but that won't happen again' is better than any sort of 'I chose not to work for a bit' story. I say give dates going back three years then a general 'other work before that' statement.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
Christian Graus wrote:
something that would scare them if they knew about it ?
I suffered from depression, so it was a mental health issue. Unfortunately, there is still a large stigma attached to mental health issues. This is a real worry for me.
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Christian Graus wrote:
something that would scare them if they knew about it ?
I suffered from depression, so it was a mental health issue. Unfortunately, there is still a large stigma attached to mental health issues. This is a real worry for me.
Yeah, I can understand why you wouldn't want to reveal that. I guess, as I said, the key is to obsfucate the gap. I mean, 3 years is long enough for you to give a recent history, and then just talk vaguely about major things you achieved before that. I doubt they'd take a special interest in what you were doing in 2004 if your last three years are strong, they will want more to ask you technical questions to see if you can back up the experience you're claiming.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
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From 1999 to 2004 I was unemployed due to health reasons. However, I have recovered and since 2005 have been working as a consultant. Now I have been offered an interview for a more permanent position. What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
That is a long time to be absent from work. I say be honest about it. Don't go into any details, an interviewer will not ask. Just state matter-of-factly that you suffered health problems between 99 and 04. They will can not legally question it except maybe to ask if you feel you are fit to return. In which case you use your consulting experience for the last year as your justification for being fully ready to re-enter the workforce.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego. -
That is a long time to be absent from work. I say be honest about it. Don't go into any details, an interviewer will not ask. Just state matter-of-factly that you suffered health problems between 99 and 04. They will can not legally question it except maybe to ask if you feel you are fit to return. In which case you use your consulting experience for the last year as your justification for being fully ready to re-enter the workforce.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.I thought he had three years back at work ? Was my maths off ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
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I thought he had three years back at work ? Was my maths off ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
My mind shuts off this late. I really need to not post after 7pm. This reminds me of this one time while posting on the Internet ... well let's just say an International Incident was narrowly avoided barely by invoking article V of the Kyoto Treaty and a speech in front of the U.N. in special session.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego. -
From 1999 to 2004 I was unemployed due to health reasons. However, I have recovered and since 2005 have been working as a consultant. Now I have been offered an interview for a more permanent position. What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
New Guy Windows Vista wrote:
What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
By being truthful. That's not the same as being a blabbermouth, though.
"Love people and use things, not love things and use people." - Unknown
"The brick walls are there for a reason...to stop the people who don't want it badly enough." - Randy Pausch
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That is a long time to be absent from work. I say be honest about it. Don't go into any details, an interviewer will not ask. Just state matter-of-factly that you suffered health problems between 99 and 04. They will can not legally question it except maybe to ask if you feel you are fit to return. In which case you use your consulting experience for the last year as your justification for being fully ready to re-enter the workforce.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.You say there is some legal reason that he cannot ask more details about the time off?
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New Guy Windows Vista wrote:
What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
By being truthful. That's not the same as being a blabbermouth, though.
"Love people and use things, not love things and use people." - Unknown
"The brick walls are there for a reason...to stop the people who don't want it badly enough." - Randy Pausch
thank you for your advice.
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You say there is some legal reason that he cannot ask more details about the time off?
They can ask about the details, however, once you state "Health Reasons" vaguely they cannot legally inquire the specifics. Only as to whether you are fit to return, which your recent past history indicates.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego. -
Yeah, I can understand why you wouldn't want to reveal that. I guess, as I said, the key is to obsfucate the gap. I mean, 3 years is long enough for you to give a recent history, and then just talk vaguely about major things you achieved before that. I doubt they'd take a special interest in what you were doing in 2004 if your last three years are strong, they will want more to ask you technical questions to see if you can back up the experience you're claiming.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
thank you for your advice, Christian.
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They can ask about the details, however, once you state "Health Reasons" vaguely they cannot legally inquire the specifics. Only as to whether you are fit to return, which your recent past history indicates.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.Thank you, that is very interesting and enlightening.
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From 1999 to 2004 I was unemployed due to health reasons. However, I have recovered and since 2005 have been working as a consultant. Now I have been offered an interview for a more permanent position. What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
Realistically I don't think you can get away with just not mentioning it - although you should concentrate on your employment since 2005. Just saying something like "I was really sick in 1999 and couldn't work until 2004 - but I'm all OK now" It is unlikely that an interviewer will question further. If they do, I think you have to bite the bullet and answer truthfully (but be upbeat and positive). I once had a potential employee come in for an interview with a 'missing' 2 years on his resume. After going through most of the usual stuff, I asked him about the missing months. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice" he said "I had a breakdown - but I am fine now, as long as I take my pills" Now, at that point, he probably would still have been in the running for the position. But he made the mistake of going on... "Yeah - I go really stressed, and attacked the mainframe with a crowbar, and hit the IT manager when he tried to stop me." Now, rightly or wrongly, that kind of put me off. (As it was, a better candidate was interviewed later, so I didn't have to make the decision as to whether to hire - but honestly? I don't think I would have. It may be morally wrong - but there you are.
Take a chill pill, Daddy-o .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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Realistically I don't think you can get away with just not mentioning it - although you should concentrate on your employment since 2005. Just saying something like "I was really sick in 1999 and couldn't work until 2004 - but I'm all OK now" It is unlikely that an interviewer will question further. If they do, I think you have to bite the bullet and answer truthfully (but be upbeat and positive). I once had a potential employee come in for an interview with a 'missing' 2 years on his resume. After going through most of the usual stuff, I asked him about the missing months. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice" he said "I had a breakdown - but I am fine now, as long as I take my pills" Now, at that point, he probably would still have been in the running for the position. But he made the mistake of going on... "Yeah - I go really stressed, and attacked the mainframe with a crowbar, and hit the IT manager when he tried to stop me." Now, rightly or wrongly, that kind of put me off. (As it was, a better candidate was interviewed later, so I didn't have to make the decision as to whether to hire - but honestly? I don't think I would have. It may be morally wrong - but there you are.
Take a chill pill, Daddy-o .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
I can definitely understand not wanting to hire someone who was violent. But I can also proudly say that was not my problem, fortunately.
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I can definitely understand not wanting to hire someone who was violent. But I can also proudly say that was not my problem, fortunately.
Thing was, he was violent - not any longer. There was no need for him to go into detail. I guess that's my point - if you treat it like no big deal then the interviewer is likely to feel confident - and as your more recent experience is what you should be judged on, then putting as positive a spin as possible on the 'gap' is what I would aim at. Good luck.
Take a chill pill, Daddy-o .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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They can ask about the details, however, once you state "Health Reasons" vaguely they cannot legally inquire the specifics. Only as to whether you are fit to return, which your recent past history indicates.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
they cannot legally inquire the specifics
AFAIK there's no such thing as an illegal interview question (at least not in Canada or the USA). It is, however, illegal to exclude someone from employment because of health issues, religion, marital status etc. That makes it a bad idea for a company to ask questions related to those things since it puts them at the mercy of a disgruntled job applicant. Doesn't mean they can't ask, though, so it's still important to have a good answer prepared even if it's "I'm not willing to discuss that." Cheers, Drew.
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From 1999 to 2004 I was unemployed due to health reasons. However, I have recovered and since 2005 have been working as a consultant. Now I have been offered an interview for a more permanent position. What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
New Guy Windows Vista wrote:
What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
Be upfront about being out due to health reasons. It really isn't anyone's business to ask what it was.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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New Guy Windows Vista wrote:
What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
Be upfront about being out due to health reasons. It really isn't anyone's business to ask what it was.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
IT may not be their business, but if another person with no history of health issues interviews as well, do you really think it wouldn't become a factor ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
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From 1999 to 2004 I was unemployed due to health reasons. However, I have recovered and since 2005 have been working as a consultant. Now I have been offered an interview for a more permanent position. What is the best way to handle the issue of my interruption in employment?
Don't advertise it (in other words, don't make it prominent that you were unemployed), but if specifically asked what you were doing during that period, do NOT lie.
Cheers, Vıkram.
"You idiot British surprise me that your generators which grew up after Mid 50s had no brain at all." - Adnan Siddiqi.
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Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
they cannot legally inquire the specifics
AFAIK there's no such thing as an illegal interview question (at least not in Canada or the USA). It is, however, illegal to exclude someone from employment because of health issues, religion, marital status etc. That makes it a bad idea for a company to ask questions related to those things since it puts them at the mercy of a disgruntled job applicant. Doesn't mean they can't ask, though, so it's still important to have a good answer prepared even if it's "I'm not willing to discuss that." Cheers, Drew.